of toledo



ff. JEHDONE, 1R. FUEL RSERVE SUPPLY SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1919- Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

INVENTOR.

f4 r 1 i ATTORNEY FQ. DI. Z5 Franc/Is Merda/7e df:

BY j

UNITED STATES PATENT orFlcE.

FRANCIS JERDONE, JR., OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCHCORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

FUEL-RESERVE-SUPFLY SYSTEM.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. e, 17920.

Application filed April 8, 1919. Serial No. 288,494.

VTo ZZ @autom may concern:

VSystems. of which l declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to a fuel reserve supply system for self-propelledvehicles, and has for its object to provide simple and inoxpens e meansby which a reserve supply of fuel .Tay be carried in the main fuelsupply tank from which fuel is fed to the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid fuel holdingreceptacle having an outlet passageway with suitable means forautomatically closing the passageway when the liquid in the receptacleis reduced to a predetermined amount, said means being movable to opensaid passageway and arranged to be held in position to prevent theclosing of the passageway while the reserve supply of fuel is beingconsumed and to be automatically'released for proper functioning when asupply of liquid greater than said predetermined amount is placed insaid receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid holding tankhaving an outlet passageway with which is connected anV aspirator fortank, a valve drawing the liquid from the being provided forautomatically @losing said passageway when the liquid in the tank isreduced to a predetermined amount, means being provided for holding-1;the valve in open position while said predetermined amount of liquid isbeing .discharged from the tank, said valve being a utomaticallyreleased from said holding means when a new supply of liquid is placedin the tank greater than said predetermiuer amount.

Another object of the invention is to provide n'ieins arri` -ged to beautomatically controlled by the rise and fall of liquid in 'the tarn;above a predetermined point for openiufr and closing a passagewayleadingfrom the tank with a device for temporarily holding said passagewaycontrolling means in Vopen position, said means being adapted toautomatically close said passageway whenever the supply of liquid in thetank is reduced to a predetermined amount.

.inet-,her obiect of the invention is to pro vide in combination with aninternal combustion engine,and a fuel supply tank connected with themanifold and carburetor of the engine, as is usual in vacuum feedsystems, improved means for` limiting the amount of fuel to be drawnfrom the tank,

said means requiring the driver of the car,4

when a predetermined amount of fuel has been used to effect its settingto a position which will permit the reserve supply to be used by theengine, and which will beautomatically actuated to release position whena new supply of fuel is placed in the tank greater than saidpredetermined amount.

Another object of the inventionis to provide in combination with thevacuum fuel feed system of an ,internal vcombustion engine, improvedmeans for controllinga re- `serve supply.y of fuel in the tank, which fsupply can be used only upon manual operation of the device after apredetermined amount of the fuel hasbeen used and which will not requirefurther manipulation until a new supply of fuel greater than the re.serve supply has been placed in the tank and reduced to a predeterminedamount as previously arranged for.

To these and other ends the invention comprises certain novelV featuresof construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter moreYfully described and claimed, it being understood that variousmodifications in the detailed construction of sol the device may be madewithout departing from the spirit ofthe invention as expressed in theclaims.

A structure illustrating one embodiment of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specilication, in which:

Figure I is a diagrammatic view embodying the invention. y

Fig. Il is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a fuel tank with myinvention applied thereto5 the fuel control valve being shown in closedposition.

Fig. lll is a similar View with the Valve shown in open position.

Fig. IV is a sectional plan IV-IV of Fig. II. Y

Fig. V is a detailed plan of the upper portion of the valve operatingmechanism shown in Fig. ll. y f

Fig. VI is a sectional plan taken on line taken on line Fig. VII is adetailed view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Like reference characters throughout the several views of the drawingindicate corresponding parts.

Heretofore in the construction of fuel red serve supply systems forinternal combustion engines, devices have been provided which Vrequirethe driver, when replenishing the fuel supply, to manipulate some sorto' mechanism in order to permit a new supply of fuel to be drawn fromthe tanka Device;l of this kind are objectionable for the reason thatthey are a tax on the memory of the driver, and at times when he forgetsto perform the proper function of setting thedevice at a predeterminedposition, the entire fuel supply is consumed by the engine befr t thedrivers attention is called to the tact, thus defeating the main objectof the invention.

ln the present invention one of the objects is to overcome thisobjection by providing means which will require manual operation only atthe time when all but the reserve supply of fuel has been consumed bythe engine, after which the device is automatic in operation until thesecond supply of fuel has been reduced to a predetermined amount Inother words, whenever the tank is-lled above a pre-determined point, themechanism for controlling the supply of liquid is autoniatically movedto release position so that it will automatically prevent the dischargeof the liquid from the tank below a pre-determined point.

Referring to the drawing, il) relu-esente an internal combustion enginesuch as is rse/l Aon motor driven vehicles. A vacuum l ed tank 11 isconnected with the manifold 12 of the engine by means of aconduit L3,and the carburetor 11- o'l the engiiie is connected with said vacuumtank by means of a con-v duit 15, while the main fuel supply tank 16 isconnected with. said vacuum tank by means of a conduit 17, all as shownin Fig. l. Although in the present instance the means for drawing thefuel from the main supply tank comprises an internal combustion eugine,it will be understood that any form ot aspirator may be employed toforce the liquid out of the supply tank to any desired point or that itmay be fed therefrom by gravity.

It will be further understood that while the present invention isdesigned particularly for controlling the liquid fuel supply forinternal combustion engines, that the device may be employed forcontrolling other kinds of liquids to be used for other purposes asdesired.

In the top of the tank 16 I provide an opening 18 which is protected acover plate 18', which may be secured upon the tank by any desired meanssuch as by solder ing. Projecting into the tank through the cover plate18 is a tube 19 threaded at its upper end to receive the nut 20 on theunderside of said plate and the member 21 on the upper side of saidplate as shown in Fi g. Il, the conduit 17 being connected with themember 21 by means of a reducing coupling 22, as shown at the left ofFig. I. The lower end of the tube 19 which projects to a point adjacentthe bottom of the tank is provided with a cap 23 for closing the openend oi the tube, the outer face of said cap beingtapered as indicated at24. The cap and tube are provided with a plurality of registeringopenings 25 through which liquid is adapted to be drawn when a vacuum iscreated in the gravity feed tank 1l shown in Fig. I, or the liquid maybe discharged through the pipe 25 when the valve 2G is in open position.The tapered or conical face 24 of the cap 23 forms a valve seat for theconical shaped valve 26, which is prei erably integrally connected withthe sleeve 27 slidably mounted on the tube 19. The sleeve 27 is providedat its upper end with a float 28 of any preferred form of construction,it being understood that the fioat 28. sleeve 27 and valve 2G are freeto mov u p and down in the tank, the position of said parts upon thetube depending upon the height of the liquid in the tank. A liftingmechanism for said Heat and valve comprises a plate 29 upon the fioatand a rod 30, which extends through an opening in the plate 29 at apoint where it projects laterally from the float, said opening terninating in a slot 31 of less width than the diameter of the rod 90, toprevent displacen'ient of the latter. The rod 30 is provided at itsKlower end with a nut 32 adapted to engage the I plate 29 when the rod islifted for the pui pose of moving the fioat and valve 26 to uncover thefuel outlet passagee'ays in the bottom of the tube 19. The rod isprovided with a laterally projecting pin which is of a less diameterthan the width of the elet 81 in the plate 29, and when the rod is inposition to cause the pin to register' with the slot as shown in Fig.Il, the fioat and plate 29 together with the valve 26 are free to moveup and down in the tank without affecting movement of said rod. Theupper end of the rod is bent to form a handle Si, the downwardlyextending portion 35 of which is provided with a sleeve 36, adapted toengage a projection 37 on the plate 19', at; shown in Fig. HI, when itis desired to place said rod in position to causefthe valve 26 touncover the openings 25 in the bottom of the tube 19. Coiled around therod above the plate 18 is a spring 38, the lower end of which isanchored upon said plate by any suitable means such as screw 39, whilethe upper end of said spring is connected with said rod in a suitablemanner, as by being Cla extended throughan opening in the rod asindicated at 40. The spring 38 is tensioned in suc-h a ina-nner as torotate therod clockwise when released and a stop 41 is positioned uponthe plate 18 for limiting the movement of the rod under theaction of thespring, the stop being secured by a screw 42 and positioned so that therod will rotate through an angle of 90 when moving from the positionshown in Fig. Ill to `that shown in Fig. Il. `The spring is alsotensioned longitudinally to effect a quick depression of the rod whenreleased from the holder 37, and serves also to yieldingly hold thesleeve 35 in engagement with the plate 18 when the rod is in normalposition'.

In the modification shown in Fig. VII, I have provided a holder 43secured upon the plate 1.8" in any suitablemanner, said holderbeingprovided with a recess 44 adapted to receive the downwardly turnedportion 45 of the handle 46 on the upper end of the rod 47 A stop 48 issecured to the plate 18 by means of a screw 49, said stop serving tolimit the movement of the rod when turned by the spring 59, the upperend of which is anchored to said plate by a screw 51, while the lowerend of said spring is `Conner-,tml with said rod 4'? preferably by beingextended through an opening therein as indicated at 52, said springbeing tensioned sutliciently to rotate the rod from the position shownin Fig. VII, through van angle of 90D into engagement-with the stop 48.rihe spring is also tensioned longitudinally to depress the rod and toprevent rattling of thesanie when the car is in motion. When the rod isin normal position, the pin 33 is inline with the slot 31 in the plate29 thus permitting movement of the float and valve up and down, as theliquid rises and falls in the tank.` When the liquid in the tank hasbeen reduced to apre-determined amount, constituting the reserve supply,the discharge passageways 25 will be automatically closed by the valve26 so that no more liquid can be Withdrawn from the tank until the valveis opened. 'The closing of the valve and the consequent shutting ofi' ofthe fuel supply to the engine directs the attention of the driver to thefact that the fuel is low, and that only the reserve supply remains inthe tank. ln this case the position of the .float and valve is thatshown in Fig. il of the drawing, and before the driver can proceedfurther, it is necessary that the valve be opened to permit thef'use ofthe reserve supply of fuel in the bottom of the tank. This is done byraising the rod 30 by nic-.ins of the handle 34 and then turning itthrough an angleof 90 into proper engagement with the holder 37 or theholder 43 as the case may he, and with the handle and rod in thispositionthe float rand valve "am elevated to the position shown in Fig.

III, where they will temporarily remain to rod is moved from theposition shown inV Fig. II to the position shown in Fig. III, the pin 33at the bottom ofthe rod will be turned to thel position indicated bydotted lines in Fig. Vlor transversely of the slot 31, and when a newsupply of liquid is placed in the receptacle greater than the reservesupply, the lioat will be 4raised and the plate 29 will serve to liftthe rod through contact with the pin 33. As soon as the rod has beenlifted sufficiently to permit the sleeve 36 to clear the holder 37, thespring 38 serves to rotate said rod clockwise until the sleeve comesincontact with the stop 41, at which time Ithe pin 33 is brought intoregistering relation with the until the sleeve 36 comes in contact withthe 44 of .the holder 43, said spring will bothl rotate and depressvsaid rod until the downioo turned portion of the handle engages the"lplate 18 of the tank 16. By putting suiiioient tension upon the springsthey will prel vent accidental rotation of the rod counterclockwise fromnormal position and will prevent the same from rattling when. the car isin motion.

lt will be understood, of course, that the engine will not stopimmediately upon the closing of the valve in the inain supply tank, asthere will be sufficient fuel in the gravity feed tank and vcarbureterto supply the engine for a relatively short period of time, after whichthe drivers attention is called to the fact that the fuel control valveis closed and must be set in open position. Then the engine stops forlack of fuel in the carbureter, it must be startedV by externalmechanism and kept going until suiicient fuel is pumped into the gravityrevolutions ci the crank shaft willsuffice :use

for this purpose, and this work may'be performed by the engine starter,or the engine may be cranked by hand if not provided with a selfstarter.

lVhat I claim as -new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, and meansfor controlling said passageway to automatically. close the same whenthe supply of liquid in the receptacle is reduced to a predeterminedamount, said means being arranged to be set in position to hold saidpassageway open to permit the continuance of the discharge of liquidfrom the receptacle, a new supply of liquid in the receptacle greaterthan said pre-determined amount being effective to release said means topermit it to again close said passageway when said last mentioned supplyof liquid is reduced to the predetermined amount.

2. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, means forcontrolling said passageway to automatically close the same when thesupply or" liquid in the receptacle is reduced to a predeterminedamount, and a. holder for supporting said means in open position, saidmeans being automatically released from the holder when a new supply ofliquid greatertlian said predetermined amount is placed in saidreceptacle.

3. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, an aspiratorconnected with said receptacle adapted to force the liquid through saidpassageway, and means for automatically closing the passageway when thesupply of liquid in the receptacle is reduced to a predetermined amount,said means being movable to open said passage way when closed to permitthe continuance of the discharge of liquid from the receptacle, a newsupply of liquid in the receptacle greater than said predeterminedamount being effective to operate upon said means to place it inposition to again automatically close said passageway when said lastmentioned supply is reduced to the predetermined amount. v

4. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, an aspiratorconnected with said receptacle adapted to force liquid through saidpassageway, means for controlling said passageway to automatically closethe same when the supply of liquid in the receptacle is reduced to apredetermined amount, and a holder for supporting said means in openposition, said means being automatically released from the holder when anew supply of liquid greater than said predetermined amount is placed inthe receptacle.

5. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, a floatactuated valve for controlling said passageway to automatically closethe same when the supply of liquid in the receptacle is reduced to apredetermined amount, and a holder for supporting said oat actuatedvalve in open position, said valve being automatically re- Veased when anew supply of liquid greater than said predetermined amount is placed insaid receptacle.

6. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, a floatcontrolled valve adapted to automatically close the passageway when thesupply of liquid in the receptacle is reduced toa predetermined amount,a member for lifting said oat to open said valve, and means for holdingsaid member in position to prevent the closing of the valve, said memberbeing automatically released from said holding means when a new supplyof liquid greater than said predetermined amount is placed in saidreceptacle.

7. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, a floatactuated valve for controlling said passageway to automatically closethe same when the supply of liquid in the receptacle is reduced to apredetermined amount, means :tor raising said loat to open said valve,means coperating with said last mentioned means to hold the float inraised position, said float raising means being automatically releasedwhen a new supply of liquid is placed in the recep tacle greater thansaid predetermined amount, whereby the valve is permitted to return toclose position when the new supply of liquid is reduced to thepredetermined amount.

8. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, a floatcontrolled valve adapted to automatically close said passageway when thesupply of liquid in the recep tacle is' reduced to a predeterminedamount, rod for lifting said float and valve, means for temporarilymaintaining said rod in raised position, said rod being automaticallymoved to release position when a new supply of liquid greater than saidpredetermined amount is placed in said receptacle, and a spring forreturning the rod to normal position when released.

9. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, a floatcontrolled valve for closing said passageway when the supply of liquidin the receptacle is reduced to a predetermined amount, a lifter forraising said iloat to open said passageway, means for temporarilyholding said lifter in raised position, said lifter being automaticallymoved to release position when a new supply of liquid greater than saidpredetermined amount is placed in said receptacle, and means arranged toyieldingly hold said lifter in normal position when released.

l0. A liquid holding receptacle having a tube projecting therein,provided with an vopening adjacent its lower end, an aspirator connectedwith said tube, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the tube for controllingsaid opening', u float connected with said sleeve, a lifter connectedwith said float, a holder for temporarily retaining said lifter inposition to prevent the closing of said opening by said sleeve, and astop upon said lifter adapted to be engaged by said float for mov- Y ingthe litter to release position whena pre-V determined amount of liquidis placed in Said tank. v

l1, A liquid holding receptacle provided with a liquid dischargepassageway, a valve for controlling said passageway, a float forcontrolling said valve to automatically close the passageway when theliquid in said receptacle is reduced to a predetermined amount, anadjustable rodA movable from normal position to shift Vthe valve to openposition, means for engaging said rod to temporarily hold it in adjusted position, said rod being arranged to be automatically re leasedfrom said holding'` means `when the liquid in the receptacle isincreasedabove said predetermined amount, and means for returning the rodtonormal position when released. Y

12. A liquid holding receptacle provided with a liquid dischargepassageway, a valve for controlling said passageway, a float forcontrolling said valve to automatically close the passageway when theliquid in said re ceptacle is reduced to va predetermined amount, anadjustable rod movableV from normal position to shift the valve to openposition, means for engaging said rod to.

temporarily hold it in adjusted position, and a projection upon the rodarranged to` be engaged by the float when the liquid in the receptacleis increased above said predetermined amount whereby the rod isreleasedfrom said holding means,'and means for returning said rod to normalposition when released. d

13. A liquid holding receptacle provided with a liquid dischargepassageway, a valve for controlling said passageway, a float forcontrolling said valve to automatically close the passageway when theliquid in said re ceptacle is reduced to a predetermined amount, a rodrotatable inthe receptacle and normally in position to permit freemovement of the Hoat up and down therein, means by which the raising ofsaid rod is effected by said float, and means by which the rod is heldin raised position to hold said valve in open position, said rod beingadapted to be actuated by said float to release position when the liquidin the recep-y tacle is increased above vsaid predetermined amount, andmeans for depressingandrotating said rod back to normalv position whenreleased. 1

la. A liquid holding receptacle provided with adischarge passageway,v avalve for position when moved to place said projec-y tion in the path ofthe float, the projection being engaged by said Vfloat when the liquidin said receptacle is increased above said predetermined amount, wherebysaid rod is moved out of engagement with said holdingr b b t3 means, andmeans for returning the rod to j normal position when released.

'15. i liquid holding receptacle providedV with a liquid dischargepassageway, a valve for controlling said passageway, a float forcontrolling said valve to automatically close the passageway when theliquid in said receptacle is reduced to a predetermined amount, a plateprojecting from'said float having an aperture there-through communieating with a slot formed in said plate, a rod rotatably mounted vinsaid aperture, the di ameter of the rod being greater thanV the width ofsaid slot, a head upon said rod beneath said plate, a pin projectinglaterally from the rod above said plate, the diameter of .said pin beingless than the width of said slot, said rod being normally in positiontocause .said pin to register with the slot, whereby movement of the floatup and down in the receptacle is permitted without movement of the rod,means by which the rodis lifted and rotated into position to cause saidpin to extend transversely ofthe slot, means for temporarily holdingsaid rod in said elevatedI position, the plate upon said float engagingsaid pin when the float is raised above a predetermined point by theliquid in the receptacle whereby said rod is moved to release position,and means for returning the rodto normal position to permit free movement of the float and plate thereon.

16. A liquid holding receptacle provided with a liquid dischargepassageway connected with the manifold and carbureter of an internalcombustion engine, a valve for controlling said passageway, a float forcontrolling said valve to automatically close the passageway when theliquid in said recep- .tacle is reduced to a predetermined amount,

17. A liquid holding receptacle having an outlet passageway, andmanually adjustable means for controlling said passageway to maintain itin open position under certain predetermined conditions and toautomatically open and close the same when the liquid in the receptaclerises and falls above and below a redetermined point.

18. A liquid holding receptacle having a tube projecting thereinprovided with an inlet passageway adjacent its lower end, an aspiratorconnected with said tube adapted to draw liquid through the tube againstthe action of" avity, and a float controlled member sli ably mountedupon the tube and arranged to automatically open and close saidpassageway when the liquid in the receptacle rises and falls above andbelow a edetermined point.

19. A liquid holding receptacle having a tube projecting therein inposition to discharge liquid from a point adjacent the bottom of thereceptacle through the top thereof, and a float controlled sleeveslidably mounted upon the tube and manually adjustable te open positionfrom the exterior of the tank and adapted to aiutomatically open andclose said tube when the liquid rises and falls above and below apredetermined point in the receptacle.

20. In a fuel reserve supply system, the combination with the manifoldand carbureter of an internal combustion engine and the fuel supply tanktherefor, a supply pipe connecting the tank and carbureter, and meansfor automatically closing the supply pipe when the liquidy in the tankis reduced to a predetermined amount, said means being adjustable topermit the use of the reserve supply of fuel in the tank, and adapted tobe automatically released from adjusted position when the supply of fuelin the tank is increased above the amount constituting the reservesupply.

2l. In a fuel reserve supply system, the combination with the manifoldand car'- bureter of an internal combustion engine and a vacuum gravityfeed tank connected with saidv manifold and carbureter, a supply tank, asupply pipe connecting said suppl tank with said vacuum gravity feedtan' and means for automatically closing the suplply pi e when the fuelin the supply tan is re uced to a predetermined amount, said means beingadjustable manually from the exterior of the tank to permit the use ofthe reserve supply of fuel therein and adapted to be automaticallyreleased from adjusted position when the fuel in the sup# ply tank isincreased above the amount constituting the reserve supply.

22. In combination, a vacuum fuel feed system including a supply tank'in which t e fuel is submitted to atmospheric pressure, a device withinthe tank connected to said system adapted to prevent discharge of fuelfrom the tank when the fuel is reduced to a point below a predeterminedlevel therein, said device being capable of adjustment to ermit theremainder of the fuel to be wit drawn from the tank and adapted toautomatically close the discharge outlet when a new supply of fuel hasbeen paced in the tank and discharged to a point low said level andmeans for effecting adjustment of said device.

23. A liquid holding receptacle provided with a discharge passageway, anadjustable device adapted to prevent discharge of liquid through thepassage when the liquid is reduced to a int below a predetermined levelwithin t e tank, said device being adapted to automatically close thepassage way when a new supply of liquid has been placed in the tank andwithdrawn to a point below said predetermined level and means manuallyoperable from the exterior of the tank to effect adjustment of saiddevice.

24e. A liquid holding receptacle having a tube projecting thereinprovided with an inlet passageway adjacent its lower end, a floatcontrolled member slidably mounted upon the tube arranged toautomatically close said passageway when the liquid falls below apredetermined point within the tank whereby a reserve supply of fuel ismaintained and means for manually setting said member t0 ermit saidreserve supply of fuel to How t rough said tube, said setting meansbeing automatically released when the tank is refilled to a point abovesaid predetermined level.

25. In a liquid cont-rol device, a liquid holding receptacle having adischarge pipe leading from a point adjacent the bottoni thereof,adjustableA means controlled by the rise and fall of liquid in thereceptacle adapted to automatically close vsaid pipe when the liquidreaches a predetermined level: within the receptacle to maintain areserve supply therein and means for manually setting saidl adjustablemeans in position to permit said reserve supply to be withdrawn from thereceptacle, said setting means being automatically released when a newsupply of liquid is placed in the recep-` tacle greater than saidreserve supply.

2B. I'n a liquid control device, a liquid holding receptacle, a suctiontube projecting therein to a point adjacent the bottom of the receptacleand having an inlet opening at the lower end thereof, adapted to beconstantly sealed by the liquid in the tank, adjustable means controlledby the rise and fall of the liquid in the tank adapted to automaticallyclose said opening before the liquid is reduced to a level with saidopening to maintain a reserve supply of liquid in the tank and means forsetting said adjustable means in position to permit said reserve supplyto be withdrawn from the j tank, said setting means being automaticallyreleased wheny a new supply yof liquid is.

27. l vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion engines includinga supply tank, a tube connected with said system and projecting into thetank to a point adjacent the bottom thereof and having an inlet openingat its lower end adapted to be constantly sealed by the fuel in the tankand means within the tank adapted to automatically open and close saidopening when the fuel rises and falls above a predetermined point withinthe tank.

2S. n fuel control system comprising a fuel tank, a tube connected withthe tank raving a float controlled valve arranged to automatically closesaid tube when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predeterminedamount, and rotatably mounted means associated `with said floatcontrolled valve for lifting the same when closed.

29. fuel control system for maintaining a reserve supply of fuelcomprising a fuel tank, a tube connected with the tank, a floatcontrolled valve arranged to automatically7 close said tube when thefuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, rotatably mountedmeans adjustable to effect the lifting' of said valve from its seat andadapted to hold the same until the fuel in the tank is increased abovesaid predetermined amount after which it is automatt cally released topermit theclosing of the valve, and means adapted to return saidrotatably mounted means to normal position when released.

30. The combination with a vacuum fuel feed system of an internalcombustion engine including the fuel tank, a receptacle connected withsaid tank in position to be filled by gravity and from which the fuel isadapted to be drawn by said vaccum fuel feed system to be supplied tothe carburetor of the engine, means adapted to automatically close saidreceptacle when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predeterminedamount, and means for setting said last mentioned means in position tomaintain open communication between said receptacle and tank, saidsetting means being adapted to automatically return to normal positionwhen the fuel in the tank is increased above a predetermined amount.

3l. The combination with the vacuum fuel feed system of an internalcombustion engine including the fuel supply tank, a receptacle withinsaid tank having a fuel passageway communicating therewith, and manuallyadjustable means adapted to automatically close said passageway when thefuel in the tank reaches a predetermined level whereby the discharge offuel from the tank is prevented.

32. The combination with the vacuum fuel feed system of an internalcombustion engine including the fuel supply tank, a receptacle connectedwith said tank having a fuel passageway communicating,` therewith, meansadapted to automatically close said passageway when the fuel in the tankreaches a predetermined level, and manually adjustable means connectedwith the receptacle for actuating said last mentioned means to open saidpassageway, said man ually adjustable means being automatically releasedand returned to normal position when the fuel `in the tank is increasedabove said predetermined point.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANCIS J ERDONE, JR.

